“The Darling” Is One Step Closer To National Register Of Historic Places
Photo courtesy of Jack Rodriguez/Liz Simmons – Liz Simmons poses on the porch of “The Darling,” a historic Rising Fawn home with a future as a bed and breakfast and a past filled with marriages.
By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor
As readers may recall, Liz Simmons has spent the last few years working to get the Judge Hale house in Rising Fawn on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1884, the home is a striking white Victorian gingerbread across from Rising Fawn Hardware and Supply.
Simmons’ vision is to open the home as a bed and breakfast (christened The Darling) but first, she sought to preserve and draw attention to Dade’s rich history. There are also historic preservation tax incentives that the home might earn by being on the national register.
The Dade County Public Library, Clerk of Superior Court staff, and Dade County Historical Society helped greatly in her research of the home, and Simmons asked the local community to share information and photos connected to the house, particularly about marriage ceremonies that took place during the Judge Hale era. (See the March 1, 2023, issue of the Sentinel.)
Following the submission of the initial application and collection of research, she was delighted to learn that the home is qualified for the register. If all goes well, the house will become Dade’s third location and first residence on the register, joining the Dade County Courthouse and Lookout Mountain Hotel (now Covenant College’s Carter Hall).
The National Park System oversees the National Register of Historic Places, but applications are channeled through each state. Therefore, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs notified Simmons that the Judge Hale history of the house meets necessary criteria for the register.
The notice read, “The property appears to meet the criteria for listing in the National Register under Criterion B in the area of Social History for its association with Judge W. W. Hale, who was a leading figure in the marriage industry in Rising Fawn and known across the region as the ‘Marrying Man.’”
The department explained that the house may also be historically significant in areas of politics/government and/or commerce, but further research is needed to confirm such significance.
Photo courtesy of Jack Rodriguez/Liz Simmons – The Darling is a beautiful, white, Victorian-era gingerbread house off Highway 11 in Rising Fawn.
With this being just the first stage of approval, Simmons has her work cut out for her to continue the process of being added to the register, but reaching this stage was quite a relief. This milestone affirms her investment of both time and resources and her desire to preserve local history.
The renovation plans for the home were made in accordance with guidelines to preserve as many historical elements as possible, and once renovations are complete, the register will confirm that guidelines have been followed.
As for all other steps before The Darling can open, Simmons is raising funds this year, commencing renovations in 2025, and hoping to open by spring 2026.
She carefully selected the name for her venture, wanting it to meet a list of criteria. She wanted a one-word southern-sounding name that looked like the house and matched its ambiance. She also wanted it to represent purpose, honor previous owners, and match the legacy of the home.
Inspiration from Maya Angelou’s quote “Life is tough, my darling, but so are you” provided a purpose. On The Darling’s website (www.thedarlingrisingfawn.com), Simmons explains, “Darling means beloved. That’s how I want people to feel, to know that they’re beloved when they come. When they have a seat at the table, they are known and being cheered on and appreciated and valued.”
Also, “darling” and “beloved” harken back to the home’s legacy as a wedding site where Judge Hale married about 17,000 couples.
From preparing home cooked meals to providing second chance employment to stewarding the land, Simmons’ vision for The Darling extends much further than simply renting out rooms. However, that’s a story for later on once The Darling is ready to welcome guests.
Simmons hopes that having this home on the register will be a source of pride for Dade County. She said, “It is an honor for me to be a part of maintaining both the home and history with integrity. I most cherish my role as neighbor and community member first, but I’m excited for the future as a local business owner too.”
